Victory!

I did it. I got a job that I am excited about and that I think will be a good fit and a place where I can learn and grow. I'm so glad this worked out as well as it did and I'm looking forward to new adventures! 

I'm also grateful to have gotten a summer "break." It made all the difference for my transition from Washington to Colorado, and it was so special to be able to travel, spend time with family and friends, and get quality, stress-free down time with Preston. 

I feel refreshed, established, and ready to get back to work. Having an income will also be nice! 

Obsessed

I'm afraid to admit this, but I think I'm obsessed with my puppy, Addie. Being funemployed, I get to spend all day with this little ball of fluff and I couldn't be more thrilled. Thrilled to wake up at 5 a.m. to take her out to pee. Thrilled to pick up her poops. PROUD when she poops! I'm clearly a crazy person, but I'm loving every minute. 

Like one of those overly-doting parents, I get so excited when she plays fetch, rolls on her back, pees outside, etc. I'm also convinced that she is the most well behaved puppy ever, and is likely the most adorable and intelligent. Whenever I take Addie outside, the second thing out of people's mouths (after, "awww!") is, "I bet you're not getting any sleep!" Wrong. She sleeps through the night without making a sound or having an accident. Winning! 

Things are so different with Addie compared to my dog growing up, that my mind is blown each day. I loved my family dog, Tamlorn, but he was a very shy and neurotic dog. We couldn't take him anywhere, he hated the car, he was shy around strangers, and he didn't like playing. We got him when he was 7 months old and the breeder did a terrible job of socializing him, so he was scarred for life. We tried different obedience and agility classes, and my parents even brought in a dog behavioral specialist, but he was who he was. He was a great dog for our family, but certainly had his issues. 

Addie, on the other hand, is such a dog dog. She loves playing with toys. She loves people and meeting other dogs. She can sleep anywhere, including in the car. She loves her crate. She loves getting petted all over. She is just the best. I think the big difference is that we got her at such a young age (10 weeks) and she came from a wonderful home. I'm excited to start puppy preschool with her on Saturday and to keep watching her learn and grow. I can already tell she is going to be my companion for life! 

Meet Addie

I've always loved animals. As a child, I wished so badly that I was a dog, or a cat, or a horse, or a lemur, or a snow leopard... the list goes on. I would beg my mom for pets all the time, and grew up raising rats, parakeets, a dog, a cat, and a bunny. It was the best!

After living away from home for the past 6 plus years without a pet, I was dying to add a fluffy companion to my life. Due to restrictions at my last place and knowing I would be moving, I decided to wait. Now, in Denver, that has changed! I know I'll be living here for at least 4 years and I can have pets at my rental. Hooray! Not to mention Denver is insanely pet friendly, and dogs are welcome at many restaurants, farmer's markets, parks, and breweries.

So at dusk on Saturday, Preston and I welcomed Addison Red to our home. She is a red merle Mini Australian Shepherd puppy, weighing in at 8lbs at eleven weeks of age. I am in love. 

I am pleased to introduce you to Addie!

Medical School Begins!

Yesterday marked the beginning of Preston's medical school career. He was gone 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and man, that is a long time! It's looking like that will become the norm, so I am going to need to learn how to adapt.

As part of the orientation, the medical school invited families to come to a day of information about what to expect during the next four years. At the end, they had a panel of medical school student wives speak about their experiences, and they sort of made me panic. I realize this is going to be challenging, but I'm not sure I wholly know what to expect. 

I'm hoping one of my job prospects will work out soon so that I don't go insane, but for now I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I travel to San Diego for my cousin's wedding! Onwards to four days of sun, beach, and family.

Mmmm Mmmm Summer

With Preston starting school on Monday, he already feels summer slipping away. For me, in the full swing of funemployment, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things during summertime:

Sunshine

Warm evenings

Ripe watermelon

Caprese salad (pictured below)

BBQs

Iced coffee

Outdoor concerts in the park

Open windows

Sandals 

Mint juleps (pictured below)

Freckles

Sunflowers

Baseball games

Rose wine

Afternoon thunderstorms 

Patio dining

Popsicles

I could probably go on forever... what are your summer favorites?

Busy Bee

The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind. It's been busy at our place with friends in town and lots of exploring to do and fun to be had. We have been making the brewery rounds and let's just say they are not kidding about amazing beer in Colorado!

In Denver, we visited Wynkoop  Brewing Company, River North Brewery, The Great Divide Brewing Company, and Former Future Brewing Company. Other favorites we didn't make it to with friends include Vine Street Pub & Brewery, Jagged Mountain Brewery, and Denver Beer Co. 

We of course hit up Coors in Golden, an irresistible tourist spot worth it for the three free pours. A short walk from Coors, we also tried Barrels and Bottles Brewery and Golden City Brewery in downtown Golden. Next time we go, we are certainly going to float the river through town!

If ever in the Denver area, I'd highly recommend all these breweries. My favorite thing to do is get a flight so I can sample what they have on tap to really get a feel for their taste and style. Many offer food or have rotating food trucks outside, and who doesn't love food with beer? Major win.

The next few days are going to be packed with family in town and medical school beginnings for Preston. The start of his med school seemed so far away and now it is right around the corner! 

Radiate Positivity

Today is one of those lazy Sundays, and I'm so happy to be right where I am. I am simply loving Denver and all the fun and welcoming people here, and couldn't be more content about the move. 

I'm feeling extra positive today because I have interviews for two awesome jobs next week, I had a great visit with family, and I live in a lovely home with a lovely partner. 

I'm also excited to share that I started running again last week! I developed chronic exertional compartment syndrome in 2009 and it prevented me from being able to run. I mentioned my surgery in earlier posts, and this surgery was to correct the compartment syndrome. Now, after only 7 weeks, I can run again pain free! Of course, I am miserably out of shape so really I am run-walking, but still! It is so much more than I've been able to do in years. I'm feeling so thrilled to start to getting back into shape! 

Here's to hoping the positivity I'm radiating keeps coming, and here's to sending it out into the world.

Something else to be positive about - my new plant friends! 

Our little herb garden - it's so fun to harvest the herbs and use them in our cooking and cocktails!